Is Krishna Narayana?

Tirisilex · #1 16-10-2015, 02:37 AM

Is Krishna Synonymous with Narayana?

Serrao · #2 16-10-2015, 05:19 AM

Narayana is one of the many names of the god Vishnu.
In many Hindu streams, Krishna is seen as an incarnation of Vishnu.

So Vishnu is the same as Krishna is the same as Narayana.

I don't know if all Hindus discourse like this, but many do.

kralaro · #3 16-10-2015, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tirisilex

Is Krishna Synonymous with Narayana?

Synonymous? Yes.
Same? It's complicated.

kralaro · #4 16-10-2015, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serrao

I don't know if all Hindus discourse like this

In Gaudiya Vaishnavism (ISKCON aka Hare Krishnas): Narayana is said to be expansion of Krishna. Many other Hindus consider Krishna to be avatar of Narayana.

Vinayaka · #5 16-10-2015, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serrao

I don't know if all Hindus discourse like this, but many do.

Vaishnavism is just one sect of Hinduism, although it is the largest. Non-Vaishnavas would generally be somewhat indifferent.

kralaro · #6 20-10-2015, 10:34 PM

Oh I forgot to share something:

I was taking Narayana to be a name of Vishnu, but there's also an avatar of Vishnu, called Narayana. And then Narayana is said to have reborn as Krishna. Actually Vishnu took dual avatar of Nar and Narayana, as it's said, and Nar was reborn as Arjuna and Narayana was reborn as Krishna. And then there are more links between Narayana and Krishna, like it's said that Narayana avatar had blessed 16,000/+ apsaras that they would be his wives in his next birth and so Krishna had 16,000+ wives. There's also a story that why Nar and Narayana had to take rebirth, you can ask me if you want to know.

Serrao · #7 21-10-2015, 06:09 AM

Does there exist Hindu streams that have no connection with Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Krishna at all?

I always thought the Bhagavad Gita was somehow the bible of all Hindus.

ps.
Nice thread to celebrate my 1000th post.

Serrao · #8 21-10-2015, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kralaro

There's also a story that why Nar and Narayana had to take rebirth, you can ask me if you want to know.

I would be very glad if you shared this story.

I am very fond of spiritual Hindu epics.

sunsoul · #9 21-10-2015, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serrao

Does there exist Hindu streams that have no connection with Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Krishna at all?

I always thought the Bhagavad Gita was somehow the bible of all Hindus.

ps.
Nice thread to celebrate my 1000th post.

Yes, numerous traditions and sub-traditions. Advaita Vedanta doesn't focus on a deity, in the Yoga tradition god is known as Isvara, and the Mimamsa philosophers are essentially atheist. There are lots of other examples (many tantric groups worship Shakta, a female, divine embodiment).

Vinayaka · #10 21-10-2015, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Serrao

Does there exist Hindu streams that have no connection with Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Krishna at all?

I always thought the Bhagavad Gita was somehow the bible of all Hindus.

ps.
Nice thread to celebrate my 1000th post.

The BG is not the bible. It's a Vaishnava scripture, and also used by the Smartas. I've never read it.

Because Vaishnavism is the largest sect, it does get portrayed this way. There is no Brahma sect. The trimurthi of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva being worshiped together is extremely rare as well. That idea was generated by encyclopedia writers who were non-Hindu.

The 4 main sects are Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Shaivism, and Smarta.